Comparator



March 31, 1936 R. o. EARDSLEY Er AL 2,035,178() COMPARATOR `Filed oct. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l d am MHZ dj i ijf/wil? lah/ D uw. mawu March 31, 1936. R. o. BEARDsLl-:Y ET AL l 2,035,780v

\ COMPARATOR Filed Oct. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet'I 2 March, 1936. R. o. BEARDSLEY Er AL 2,035,780

COMPARATOR Filed Oct. 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 S wi March-3l, w36. R. o. BEARDSLEY ET AL COMPARATOR Filed Oct. 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Shea?l 4 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED sTATEs -PATENT oFFlcE COLIPARATOB Robert 0. Beardsley, Ernest T. Bysshe, and

Robert R. Finn, Springfield, Vt., assignors to Jones & Lamson Machine Company, Springlield, Vt., a corporation of Vermont Application October 6, 1934, Serial No. 747,200

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in opil) For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the description thereof which follows and to the drawings, of which Figure l is a side elevation of a comparator ern# J. bodying the invention, portions being broken away to show the interior parts of the apparatus.

Figure la is a section on the line Ia-la of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, a portion of the lamp'house being broken away.

' Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the chart holder and means for rotationally adjusting the same.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section onthe line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 3" 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the comparator casing showing .a photographic plate-holder adapter.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the table sup- 35 porting an object to be tested.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line' lil-I0 of Figure 8.

Figure 1I is a plan view of a portion of the 4 comparator .showing apparatus for direct illumination instead of shadow illumination.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a special holder for ,4 a chart and photographic plate, a portion Abeing broken away.

Figure 15 is a section on the line |5|5 of Figure 14.

. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the compara- 50 tor includes a vertical pillar or standard 20 on the upper end of which is mounted a hollow casing 2|. In the front wall of the casing is mounted a lens system 22 adapted to receive light beams projected from a lamp 25 past an abject mounted between tlf lamp and thelens system, and to cast a sharp shadow image of thel object on a chart mounted in a chart holder 21. 'The light from the lamp 25 is projected through a condensing lens which is in line with the lens system 22. 'I'he lamp maybemount- 5 ed in a suitable lamp house 3| which in turn is supported on a bracket 32 projecting out from a lug 33 on the standard 20, to which it is pivotally attached. Thus the lamp house is adapted to swing about a pivot directly under the lens 10 system 22.

Projecting laterally from the standard 20 are a pair of xed brackets 35 and 36. The upper bracket 35 is provided at its outer end with an arcuate lip 38 on which slides the outer end l5 portion of the bracket 32. From the bracket 32 a small bracket 40 extends down under the lip 38 and supports a set-screw 4| by which the bracket 32 with the lamp house 3| can be clamped in adjusted position with reference to the pivot 20 33. The socket for the lamp 25 is mounted on a vertical stem 43 which is threaded at its lower and and is vertically adjustable by a nut 44, as indicated in Figure 2. The current for the lamp may be supplied through a suitable Wire 48 which may 25 be connected to a lighting system, the voltage being reduced through a, transformer 46, if necessary. The lamp is turned on and off as by a switch 41.

Within the casing 2| is a suitable mirror 50 30 which is adjustably supported, being fixed in po' sition as by a set-screw 5|. This mirror reflects the rays of light from the lens system 22 and directs them to a chart or photographic plate held over the aperture at the upper end of the casing. 35 In this aperture is tted a ring-shaped frameA member 55 provided with a suitable number of threaded studs 5G which pass through lugs 51 on the casing, nuts 58 being provided for adjustment` of the position of the frame member 55. A ringshaped chart holder 6D is adapted to be mounted on the frame member 55. In order to retain the chart holder 6'0 in position, the frame member 55 is provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 62 and 63 against which the periphery of the chart 45 holder may rest by gravity. In order to clamp the chart holder in position, a clamping device B5 may be provided as shown in Figure 6. The upper face of the chart holder 60 is preferably graduated in degrees of arc, as indicated -in Figure 4. Cooperating with these graduations is a Vernier scale member 66 on 'the upper face ofthe lug 62. Thus a chart may be rotated through any desired angle so as to make reference marks on the chart to coincide successively with different portions of a shadowoutline cast upon the chart, the angle -of such rotative adjustment being accurately observable to fractions of a degree. For slow-motion, rotative adjustment of the chart holder 60, the peripheral edge of the chart holder may be provided with suitable gear teeth 10, the series of 'these teeth preferably extending around the entire circumference of the chart holder. Asv indicated in Figure A4, a worm 1| is adapted to mesh with these teeth, the worm being mounted on a rotatable shaft 12 operable by Y a knurled head 13. The shaft and worm are carried by a member J4 which is hinged to the lug 63 as at 15 so that the worm 1I can be swung clear of the teeth 10 toA permit rapid angular adjustment of the chart holder 60. The upper face -of the chart holder is provided with an annular shoulder 18 adapted to support the edges of a circular chart 19, lthe chart being held in place by overlapping portions of a suitable number of set-screws 80. A suitable shallow groove 8| may be provided in the face of the chart holder to facilitate the removal of a chart from its position on the holder.

If a permanentrecord of a shadow outline is desired, the chart holder 60 may be removed from the frame member 55 and may be replaced by an adapter 82 which'has a rectangular opening corresponding to the size of a photographic plate. Mounted on the adapter 82 are'a pair of guide pieces 83 adapted toreceive a. photographic plate holder 84 which may be of ordinary construction as indicated in'Figure 7, or may be specially constructed asillustrated in Figures 14 and 15 and'hereinafter described. The adapter 82, instead of displacing the chart holder 60, may be made to t on the chart holder in place of -the circular chart 19.

When shadow images are being observed on a chart, it is desirable that the chart be shielded as far as possible from stray light which may come from various directions in the room 'in which4 the comparator is set up. To shield the chart from access vof such light without interfering with easy observation, a hood 90ais provided. As shown, this hood may be of frusto-conical shape, having a circular base tting on the upper face of the frame 55. 'Ihe cone of the hood 90 is cut oi on a sloping plane as indicated `in Figures 1 and 3 so as to leave an aperture 92 smaller than the aperture surrounded by the frame 55. The hood 90 is hinged as at 93 to the uppermost point of the frame 55 so thatit can be swung upward and backward to-rest against a suitable lug 9d on the casing 2| when it is de sired to get the hood out of the way for manipulation of the chart or for installation of the photographic plate holder.

The object to be tested must be mounted in the beam of light extending from `the condensing lens n to the lens system 22. To this end, the

object may be mounted'in a suitable cradle `or between adjustable'gripping elements 95, mount-- ed on a table |00. This table may be constructed m various ways, one specific structure being.v

hereinafter described in detail. For vertical adjustment, the table is mounted on the upper end of a spindle or'ram IOI,- this ram being slidable vertically through alined bores in the brackets and 36. The upperportion of the ram is screwthreaded as'at |02, this thread being engaged by a hand wheel |05 which is horizontally disposed and which is rotatably supported on the .upper face of the bracket 35. In order to facilitate operation oi' the hand wheel |05, suitable anti-fricfar.

a pair of bearings |36 and I 31.

. are preferably split as at so that the bearings tion bearings may be employed between the wheel and the supporting bracket. The ram |0| is heid against rotation by suitable means such as a vertical guide |06 and a guide followerv |01 which is clamped to the ram as by a split collar |08. The ends of the split collar are drawn together by a suitable screw |I0 operated by a convenient handie By slacking off on the screw IIO,vthe ram |0I and table |00 may be angularly 'adjusted about the vertical axis of the ram. The angle of such adjustment may'be indicated as lloosely through a fixed guide member I2I supported by a bracket I 22 which in turn is mounted on the bracket 35. The micrometer II5 is mounted .on the guide member I 2|. The extension |20, which passes up through the guide member |2|, terminates' in a head or anvil |23 which is adapted to abut a plunger |25 of the micrometer. I I5. Since the micrometer is fixed and the rod extension |20 moves vertically with the ram |0|, the micrometer thus indicates the extent of such vertical movement. The upper face of the anvil |23 is accurately finished so that measurparatus in case the table is given too great a Vertical shift, the rod ||1 may be frictionally held scale marks I2.

in the bracket 8 as indicated in Figure la. To

this end, the bracket carries a shoe I2twhich is resiliently pressed against the rod ||1 as by a spring |21 and screw |28. This permits the rod to yield vertically if the table is shifted too As indicated in. Figures 8, 9, and l0, the table |00 may be constructed with various adjustments. To this end, it is shown as comprising three superimposed parts, a horizontal frame |30 fixed to the upper end of the ram |0I, a plate |3| hinged at one end to the frame |30, and a platform member I|32 slidable on the plate |3| in a direction transverse with respect to the beam of light cast by the lamp 25. To the plate I 3| is secured a shaft |35 which is adapted to rockin These bearings may be clamped tightly on the shaft |35 to prevent rocking thereof when it is desired to hold the plate |3| at a fixed' angle relative to the frame t|30. In order to incline or tilt the plate |3| and the table |32 thereon, a suitable adjusting screw |03 may be threaded through the frame |30 'adjacent to the end opposite from the shaft |35. The screw |03 mayhave a head |50 which is graduated to cooprate with an index piece so as to indicate the amount of tilt. The plate |3| is also slidably adjustable with the shaft |35 in thedirection of the axis of the shaft. For such sliding adjustment a finger nut is threaded on an end portion of the shaft |35, this nut having an annular recess |5| which receives a fork |52 mounted on the frame |30. Thus, when the nut |50 is rotated. the shaft |35 and the plate III are shifted in such a manner as to move an object mounted on the table toward or from the lens system 22. This adjustment is us'eful in foavoid back-lash or slack between the plate |3| and the slide |32 when the latter is shiftedlongitudinally from one position to another, means is provided for constantly pressing the slide in one direction, that is, toward the left as shown in Figures 8 and 9. To this end, a suitable weight may be suspended in the hollow interior of the column |0| by a flexible strand |6|, the end uf the strand being attached to an anchor member L62 attached to the end of the slide |32, this strand passing over a suitable sheave |63 mounted on the plate |3 Cooperating with the weight |60 is asuitable stop member |65, this member being preferably the spindle of a micrometer device |61 mounted on the plate |3|. Abutting the `end of the spindle |65 is an abutment member |10 which is carried by Aa carriage |1|, this carriage being adjustably clamped to the platform |32 as by a set-screw |12 which clamps a dovetail member |13 in a dove-,tail groove |14. The abutment member |10 is preferably provided with a laterally projecting pin |16 which rides in a slot |11 to prevent rotation of the member |10. A set-screw |18 is provided to clamp the member |10 so that it can be made immovable with respect to the carriage |1l. Alined with the abutment member |10 is an adjusting vscrew |80 having a portion in threaded engagement with the carriage |1|. loosely through a lug |82 containing a set-screw |83 by which the screw |80 may be tightly clamped by the lug. The lug is mounted on the slide |3|. In using the table for a comparison of'diiferent parts of an object, the micrometer |61 may be adjusted toits zero mark, and then the screw |60 may be rotated so as to move the table endwise until the desired portion of the shadow outline coincides with a reference mark on the chart. The abutment member |10 may then be clamped in place by setting up on the screw |18. The platform |32 is then moved to the right a sufficient distance for the insertion of a spacing piece (not shown) of standard length between the ends of the spindle |65 and the abutment member |10. The table is then released to permit the abutment member |10 to press the spacing piece against the end of the spindle |65. The shadow image: can then be compared with "the reference lines on the chart. For convenience in shifting the table to the right, a-screw |90 may be mounted in the lefthand end of the plate |3|. this screw having a hand wheel |9| at the outer end thereof, the inner end thereof bearing against an abutment member |92 mounted on the lslide |32. By rotating the hand wheel |9|, theplatform |32 may be readily' shifted toward the right or allowed to return toward the' left under the iniluence of the weight |60.

Ifv an illuminated image is desired on the screen instead of a shadow image, an illuminating V'device may be provided such as that illustrated in Figures 11 to 13. As therein shown, a bracket 200 may be bolted to the front wall of the housing 2|. On this bracket a pair of lamp houses 20| are secured, these houses being ro.

tatively adjustable-about a vertical axis. Each house contains anV electric lamp, the position of which can be adjusted by suitable mechanism, and a plano-convex lens 205 in a holder 206 which The shank of the screw passes is adjustable toward and from the lamp for focusing purposes. The light from each lens 206 is reilected by a suitable mirror such as a prism 201 so that the rays focus at a point F at or near which the object to be illuminated is located. The prisms 201 may be supported on suitable standards 2|0. Each prism may, if desired, have a plano-convex lens 2|| associated therewith toV supplement the action of the lenses 205 in concentrating the rays from the lamps. The various adjustments of the lamps, lamp houses, and prisms, as well as of the table`|00|on which the object is mounted, "make it possible to illuminate the object in the best manner for the projection of a satisfactory image on the screen.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a combined chart and plate holder adapted to produce a combined photographic image of the outline of an object to be tested and a chart diagram. As illustrated, the holder may comprise a frame 220 adapted to cccupy the position of the frame 84 shown in Figure '1. The rectangular opening 22| in the frame 220 may be provided with a glass parie 222 to furnish a st iff support against which a chart and photographic lm may be pressed. Overlying the pane 222 is a translucent chart 225. On the chart may be any desired lines of reference such as, for example, tolerance outlines 226 I for a screw thread, as illustrated in Figure 14. The chart 225 may be inserted in the frame 220 edgewise through a narrow slot in the end of the frame, the chart being preferably long enough to have a projecting end portion 221 which can be grasped to adjust the position of the chart in To clamp the chart in adjusted po- -ihe frame. sition, a pair of setl screws 230 may be mounted in brackets 23| so as to press down on the chart and prevent it from slipping from its adjusted position. The-frame is provided with the usual back 232 having a pair of pivoted springs 233 adapted to catch under a set of lugs 235 on the frame to hold the back 232 releasably in position and to press it resiliently against the pane 222. A photographic plate or lm 240 is adapted to be inserted between the chart 225 and the back 232, an opaque slide 24| being insertable on the frame below the pane 222 to protect 'the lm 240 from light. In using the frame, the back 232 and the slide.24| are removed, and the frame is positioned on the cover plate 82. A chart 225 is inserted in the frame and is adjusted properly with reference to the shadow image of an ob- 225 to light rays entering the casing through the lens system 22. Thus a permanent photographic record may be made of the superposed outlines of the chart diagram and the shadow image.

l. In an optical comparator, means for forming a shadow image of the object to be tested, in-

. cluding means for projecting a horizontal beam I of iight, and a lens system in line with said beam and spaced from said projecting means, in combination with a table for supporting an object to be tested between said projecting means and said lens system, a vertical ram extending downward cal adjustment by rotation -from said table, anxed guide parallel to said ram, means engaging said guide and releasably clampedv to said ram to prevent rotation thereof,

'means for vertically adjusting said ram and table, 'and a vertical standard supporting all said means.

2. An optical comparator comprising a standard, a bracket projecting laterally thereirom, a horizontal wheel -having a screw-threaded cen- -tral aperture rotatably supported on said bracket, avertical ram extending through said wheel andin threaded engagement therewith for vertiof said wheel, a table mounted on the upper end of said ram to sup'- port shadow-casting objects to be tested, means for preventing rotation of said ram and table consisting of a vertical guide member carried by said standard and a follower releasably clamped to said ram and in sliding engagement with said guide, and means carried by said standard for forming a magnified shadow image oi' a portion of an objectsupported on said table.

3. An optical comparator comprising a standard, a casing mounted thereon, a lens system and screen supported by said casing, means for projecting a beam of light .through said lens sys- 'Item and onto said screen, and means for supsaid movable support andv vertically adjustableV :relatively thereto i'or engagementwith -said mining said contact element with said d'5.

ing means including a porting an object to be a magniied shadow on tested in position to cast pair of brackets projecting laterally from said standard and having vertically alined bores, a ram-movable vertically in said bores, a wheel in threaded engagement with a portion of saidram supported on one of said brackets'and rotatable to adjust said -ram vertically,a table mounted on the upper end of saidl ram to support an 'object to be tested, a fixed verticalguide carried by said standard, a guidefollower clamped to said ram and engaging said guide to prevent rotative movement by said ram,

said guide-follower being releasable to permit rotative vadjustment of said ram and the table thereon about a vertical axis, and means on said lrain and follower for indicating the-angle of rotative adjustment of said ram and table.'

4. `In anoptical comparator, means for adjustably supporting an object to be tested, said means comprising a table, a xedsupport, a vvertically adjustable -movable support carried by said xed support, said vtable being mounted on said movable support, and means-for indicating the exl tent of` vertical adjustment of said movable sup' vport and table, said indicating'means including' a micrometer device mounted on said fixed support, a vertically movable anvil mounted'below said micrometer device for operative -engagement therewith, and means operatively and adjustably connecting said anvil with said movable support whereby said anvil. moves vertically with said movable support. -I

5'. I'n an optical comparator, justably supportingl an object to means comprising a ilxed suppo adjustable movable support carried support, a table mounted on said movable sup'- port, and means for indicating the extent of 'vertical adjustment ofsaid movable means forV ada vertically by said xed table, said indicating means including a iixed micrometer device, a contact element carried by rometer. device, and frictlonal means connectmovable support whereby saidcontact element can yield ver- 'jsaid anvil havingV a prising a vertical ram,

said screen, said support-A 'axis of vsaid hinge,'an adjustable be tested, said passing through said brackets, a table mounted on the upper end of said ram, means for adjusting said ram and table vertically, means i'or preventing rotation of` said ram and table, and

means for indicating thel extent of vertical movement of said ram and including a vertical ported on one of saidbrackets, a micrometer device mounted on said guide member, and a vertically. adjustable anvil secured to said ram, contact portion extending through said vertical guide for operative engagement with said micrometer device. 1

7. In an optical comparator, means for supporting an object to be tested, said means coma horizontal frame xed to the upper -end oi' said ram, a horizontal plate hinged at one end to said, frame, a platform slidable on said platemeans for adjustably tilting said plate and platform, means tending to move said platform in one direction, an adjusttable, said indicating means guide member rigidly supable stop opposing movement of said platform in said direction, and means for supporting and vertically adjusting said ram. v 8. In an optical comparator, means for projecting a beam Vo1' light to lcast a shadow of an object to be tested, means for supporting said object to be tested, said supporting means comprising a horizontal plate, a platform slidable on said plate in a direction transverse with respect to said lightbeam, means constantly pressing said platform in' said direction, carried by said platformand'adjustable in the direction oi.' movement of said platform, and a,

, stop element having a micrometer adjustment engaged bysaid abutmeniamember to determine the position of horizontal adjustment of said platform.V

means for sup- 1 a platform overlying said plate and slidable thererespect to the'v on in a direction transverse with stop on said relatively to said an abutment member` said means complate engaged by said platform, and means con--` stantly pressing -said platform against said'stop. 10. *An optical comparator comprising a standard, a casing on said standard, .a screem landa lens system carried by said casing, a table' adjustably supported by said standard, and means for illuminating an object mounted onsaid table. said means including a bracket on said standard, a pair oflamp houseson said bracket on opposite `sides l said lens system, lamps in saidhouses, a pair of reflectors'arranged to reiiect'light from said lamps on an-'object supported .on said tablevbetween said lamp houses in line .with said lens system, and condensing lenses adjustableto focus light from lamps in said lamp houses on said A object.

l1. An optical comparator comprising a casing having an aperture, a support for said casing, a ring-shaped frame of the optical axis oi member adjustably secured carried by said support for casting a shadow outline of an object to be tested on a chart held by said chart holder.

12. An optical comparator comprising a casing having an aperture, a support for said casing, a ring-shaped frame member adjustably mounted -on said casing around said aperture, a ringshaped graduated chart holder rotatable on said frame member about its center, said chart holder having gear teeth in its outer periphery, a manually operable worm movable into and out of meshing engagement with said teeth, said worm being actuable when meshing said teeth to impart slow rotational movement to said chart holder, and means carried by said support for casting on said chart an image of an object to beA tested.

` 13. In an optical comparator, a casing having.

an aperture, a ring-shaped frame member adjustably mounted on said-casing and surrounding said aperture, a ring-shaped chart holder rotatable on said member about its center, radial scale marks on said chart holder, a Vernier scale mounted on said member adjacent to a portion of said chart holder, slow-motion means for rotatably adjusting said chart holder for vernier reading, and'means for casting on a chart mounted in said chart holder an image of an object to be tested.

14. An optical comparator comprising a casing having an aperture, a support for said casing, a

ring-shaped frame member adjustably mounted on said casing around said aperture, a circular plate having arectangular opening iltted in said frame, means on said plate for receiving and holding in registry with said opening a photographic plate holder, and means carried by said support for casting on a photographic plate held over said opening an image oban object to be tested.`

15. In an optical comparator, a casing having a rectangular aperture, a frame adapted to iit over said aperture, means for releasably holding said frame in a predetermined position over said aperture, a translucent chart in said frame adjustable in its own plane, means /on said frame for holding said chart in adjusted position, means in said-frame for holding a photographic plate or lm against said chart, and means for casting on said chart on image of an object to be tested.

16. An optical comparator comprising a casing having anaperture, a support for saidcasing, a

ring-shaped frame adjustably mounted on said casing around said aperture, means on said frame for holding a translucent screen across said aperture, a hood hinged to said frame at its uppermost point, said hood having a frusto-conical shape with a circular base tting against said frame and an opening at its upper end smaller than said aperture, and means carried by said support for casting on a screen held across said aperture an image of an object to be tested.

, ROBERT O. BEARDSLEY.

ERNEST T. BYSSHE. ROBERT R. FINN. 

